Chapter 7 – Pika-Palooza
Giovanni was in his room sleeping, Persian on his stomach. As Giovanni breathed, his Pokémon rose up and down. It purred softly, a tiny piece of meat held tightly between his claws. His master did not mind him eating on the bed. Giovanni sort of chuckled in his sleep. He dreamed up a new way to get rid of Jessie and James…
On a table at the other side of a room sat a rather large plastic container. Inside sat Pikachu, trying its best to get out. He did not like it in there and he began to wonder why Ash hadn't come to rescue him. Would he be stuck in the clutches of Team Rocket forever? Oh, cruel fate! He whimpered and continued his electric attack-slaughter on the container. But he was weakening. He hadn't stopped shocking it since he had been put in there, which was hours ago. It seemed hopeless for the little mouse-like Pokémon.
Suddenly, he heard the doorknob to Giovanni's door shake. He turned around to see a very small figure enter. "Pi…" he whispered. He strained his eyes and ears to see and listen.
The figure chuckled, its dark shadow moving into the room. It did not notice Pikachu, but continued walking to the bed. It seemed to be moving in on the Persian. Closer…Closer… Pikachu could not make out who it was, but he watched it jump onto the bed and sneak right up to the Persian.
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted.
The figure squawked and fell over. It ran over to Pikachu in its little container.
"HEY! What d'ya tink yer doin'?" it whispered angrily.
Pikachu laughed. It was Meowth. "Piihee! Pika pika ka chu pi!"
"What d'ya mean, What am I doin'? I'm hungry. An' Poisen is asleep wit meat. An' he won't know I stole it." He held up the little piece of steak for Pikachu to see.
An evil grin crossed Pikachu's face. For all the times Meowth had hurt him, picked on him, and tried to steal him, it was pay back time…
"PIKA!" he shouted as loud as he could, and rocked the container back and forth. "CHU!"
"WHAT ARE YA DOIN'?" Meowth screamed. "Be quiet!"
"Perr-nyaaaaaaaaa!"
A giant sweatdrop fell down Meowth's head. He looked over to see Persian wide-awake and hissing loudly. Giovanni followed suite, flicking on the light and rising to his feet.
"What's going on here?" he bellowed, running over to Meowth and grabbing him by the scruff of his neck. Persian hissed, eyeing its meat.
Meowth gulped and tried to explain while Pikachu laughed and laughed. This was kind of fun. He wondered if Meowth wandered into Giovanni's room every night.
Stacey was making her way back up from the dungeon when she heard commotion down the hall. Being very curious, she decided to see what was going on. She rushed to the door to see Meowth being yelled at by the Boss. She was pleased with this, for she was a tad angry with Meowth.
But what was that on the table? It looked like a Pikachu, but was it the one Tracey was looking for? She'd have to take the chance. But how would she get in there? The Boss seemed to be very involved with Meowth. Maybe if she could get Pikachu's attention, he could get over to her somehow.
"Pika pi!" she whispered. Pikachu's ears perked up and it looked over at the door. He saw Stacey and frowned. Another Team Rocket member. Stacey wondered how to say 'I'm a friend' in Pikachu. Then, it struck her. She held up Tracey's notebook and pointed to it. Pikachu squealed and tried to move the container. But it was square.
Stacey groaned. How would she do this? Pikachu seemed to trust her though. She held up a finger indicating she'd be back in a moment and ran off. Pikachu waited and was delighted when she returned with a rope. She made a lasso and tried swinging it around the box without being seen. After about twenty times, she managed to get it. Pikachu was pulled slowly off the table. Surprisingly, no one noticed. He was then pulled closer to Stacey.
When the box came to her, she immediately opened it. "I'm a friend of Tracey's," she said quietly. "We'll get you back to your Master."
"Pi!" Pikachu smiled.
"Let's go. Tracey's waiting for you downstairs."
"Idiot! How dare you try to steal from my Persian!"
"Ah'm sorry, Boss!"
"Oh, is that all?"
"Uh…VERY sorry!"
Giovanni clung tightly to Meowth. Then he threw him onto the floor where Persian scratched him and grabbed back its meat. "Out!"
"Tank you, Sir! You're so generous!" Meowth quickly sped out the door. He was very lucky. Then he noticed the container. Pikachu had escaped! He needed to tell the Boss!
But…Wait.
Giovanni was extremely mad at him now, but if he could get Pikachu back, then maybe he'd earn the Boss' respect back.
Yeah!
He made his way down to James' room with so much gusto, one would think he'd just won on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?'. He did not care if Jessie and James would be mad at him. He needed to get them and make the Boss happy again.
He got up to the door and banged his fist on it. "Open up, you sickos! We got woik ta do!"
He heard a groan of annoyance and Jessie's voice answer him. "Do you know what time it is?"
"C'mon! Pikachu escaped and da Boss is furious!"
The next thing he heard was a big scramble. Finally, Jessie and James emerged from the room, fully dressed in their uniforms and completely clean and looking just as always.
"This can't be!" Jessie growled. "We had the PERFECT plan!"
"We weren't supposed to lose!" James whined.
"Dat ahtist twoip was heah," Meowth said, beginning to rush to the dungeon with Jessie and James following close behind. "I'll bet he had some ting ta do wit it." He led them to the cell where Tracey…
Was.
"HE'S GONE!" Meowth screamed.
"He took Pikachu!" James and Jessie cried in unison.
"To da Balloon!"
Tracey, Stacey, and Pikachu had made it out of Team Rocket Head Quarters and were running through the forest. The sun was just beginning to rise, so it was not as dark as the last time Tracey had been out here. They all were happy to be free, but nervous that they would be followed.
Suddenly, they felt a great gust of wind. They looked up to see Team Rocket in the Meowth Balloon.
"Git ovah heah, Stacey," Meowth hissed. "An' bring back Pikachu, or you'll nevah see da light of day again!"
End of Chapter 7